A tiny study gave five short kids a nasal spray of a synthetic hormone-releasing peptide (GRF 1‑29) and saw a quick jump in their growth hormone levels, peaking around 15 minutes and staying higher for at least two hours. No serious side effects were seen except a mild nose burn in one child.

The effects of intranasal insufflation of the synthetic growth hormone releasing factor GRF 1-29-NH2 on serum growth hormone (GH) were investigated in five healthy prepubertal children with short stature. 100 micrograms/kg/body weight of synthetic GRF 1-29-NH2, 500 micrograms in 100 microliters water, were insufflated intranasally after careful cleaning of the nose. GRF 1-29-NH2 induced a prompt rise of serum GH levels with peak values at 15 minutes in all children investigated. Peak serum GH values were 28.3 +/- 12.0 ng/ml (mean +/- SD), range 17.1 - 47.6 ng/ml; delta GH was 27.0 +/- 12.2 ng/ml (mean +/- SD). Serum GH levels were still significantly raised 120 minutes after the insufflation of GRF 1-29-NH2 (p less than 0.05). No side effects, except for burning of the nasal mucosa in one patient, were observed. The results of this study demonstrate that intranasal insufflation of synthetic GRF 1-29-NH2 induces a prompt release of GH in otherwise normal children with short stature. Pulsatile intranasal insufflation of GRF 1-29-NH2 probably could be used for the treatment of some children with GH deficiency due to a defect at a suprapituitary level.